Playing table with base for holding fluid therein

ABSTRACT

There is disclosed herein a playing table for games, such as billiards or the like, generally employing a playing board and a base wherein fluid in the base is utilized for distributing the supporting force to the board in a uniform manner and providing substantially all of the supporting force therefor. A float device may underlie substantially the entire board and float upon a liquid within the base, or the support and uniform distribution of the board may be provided by a bladder type device. Additionally, the uniform support and force distribution arrangement permits use of board materials not otherwise generally considered usable for providing a flat playing surface, such as a slab of concrete. A nut arrangement attached to the board provides for clamping of the board to the base in a substantially fixed relationship for maintaining the plane of the board substantially fixed.

United States Patent [1 1 Criswell PLAYING TABLE WITH BASE FOR HOLDING FLUID THEREIN 22 Filed: Apr. 21, 1972 211 App]. No.: 246,282

Related US. Application Data [63] Continuation-in-part of Ser. No. 42,318, June 1,

1970, abandoned.

[52] US. Cl 273/3 C, 114/195, 273/6, 273/8 [51] Int. Cl A63d 15/00 [58] Field of Search 273/3 R, 3 C, 6, 8; 114/191, 192, 193, 194, 195, .5 F

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 211,705 1/1879 Corduan 273/6 UX 967,278 8/1910 Wertheim 114/192 1,248,797 12/1917 Booth 273/6 UX 1,524,758 2/1925 Stedman et al. 273/3 R 1,856,117 5/1932 Small, .lr. 273/3 R X 3,012,533 12/1961 Tellefsen 114/.5 F

[ Sept. 24, 1974 Primary ExaminerRichard C. Pinkham Assistant ExaminerR. T. Stouffer Attorney, Agent, or FirmLyon & Lyon [5 7] ABSTRACT There is disclosed herein a playing table for games, such as billiards or the like, generally employing a playing board and a base wherein fluid in the base is utilized for distributing the supporting force to the board in a uniform manner and providing substantially all of the supporting force therefor. A float device may underlie substantially the entire board and float upon a liquid within the base, or the support and uniform distribution of the board may be provided by a bladder type device. Additionally, the uniform support and force distribution arrangement permits use of board materials not otherwise generally considered usable for providing a flat playing surface, such as a slab of concrete. A nut arrangement attached to the board provides for clamping of the board to the base in a substantially fixed relationship for maintaining the plane of the board substantially fixed.

8 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures PAIEm 1) SEP 2 4 2314 SlEEI 1 U 2 I PLAYING TABLE WITH BASE FOR HOLDING FLUID THEREIN This application is a continuation-in-part of my application Ser. No. 42,318 filed June 1, 1970, now abandoned.

This invention'relates to improvements in playing tables such as for billiards or the like. The invention relates'particularly to playing tables in which the playing board is supported in a uniform manner by means of a fluid contained in a base structure of the table.

In the case of most games employing a ball and a playing table, it is desirable that the upper surface of the table be fiat, or lie perfectly horizontal or both. This is particularly true in the case of billiards and other games in which the playing ball is rolled over the surface of a playing board. A related requirement is that the playing table, or at least the playing board, be held against lateral displacement in the plane of the board. It is an object of the invention to provide a playing table which incorporates a novel means for leveling the playing board, novel means for insuring flatness in the playing board and novel means for opposing lateral translation of the board. The invention has wider application but it is particularly well-suited for incorporation in billiard tables and one of the objects of the invention is to provide an improved billiard table.

Lateral stability of a playing table can be accomplished in large measure by merely increasing the weight of the table whereby a greater force is required to displace it laterally. In the past, increasing weight has added greatly to playing table cost not only in that more materials were required in the fabrication of tables but also because of increased cost in the tasks of storing, transporting and installing them. The base structure of the table is arranged so that it can contain a fluid, which need not be added until installation of the playing table at the point of use. The fluid may be a liquid, ordinarily water, contained in the base structure itself for providing buoyant support for the playing 7 board, or the fluid may be contained in a bladder for providing support. In the latter case the bladder may contain either a liquid such as water or a gas such as air.

It is another feature of the invention that the playing board can be supported at least in part by a buoyant member which is floated upon a liquid carried in the base structure. To provide that feature is another object of the invention. The liquid in the base comes to rest with its surface horizontal. It is another feature of the invention to incorporate a structure which makes use of that fact in leveling the playing board.

The playing area of a billiard table may be as large as four and one-half feet by nine feet. The width of the outer'rail and a playing space as wide as the cue is long must be added to those dimensions. Most dwelling houses cannot accommodate such a table. Accordingly, an object of the invention is to provide a table which can be erected out-of-doors in all but the most severe climates and which can be maintained in suitable playing condition with only a minimum of protection against the elements. Not the least of the purposes of the invention is to provide a playing table, and particularly a billiard table for a market for which there has been no suitable product of this kind. Thus it is an object to provide a high performance, durable table producible at reasonable cost to'users who'cannotaccommodate the table indoors.

' Certain of these and-other objectsand-advantages of theinvention which-will hereinafter appear are realized in-part by the provision of aplaying table whichcomprises a base structure capable of carrying a' quantity of fluid. Certain of the bjects and advantages of theinvention are realized by the combination of such astructure with a playing board and a float means'for'utilizing a liquid contained in the base structure for supporting the board.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of abilliard table'embodying the invention;

FIG. 2a is a cross-sectional view of a-fragment of the table'taken on line 2--2 of FIG. 1, andFIG. 2b is a fragmentary view of an alternative arrangement;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of afragment of the table taken on line 3-3 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a view'in side elevation of the billiardtable of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of an alternative form playing board embodying the invention;

The billiard table selected for illustration in FIGS. 1 through 4 includes a playing table 10 which is carried upon a base 12. ltincludes means for'lending stability to the structure by adding weight in'the formof a liquid contained within the base 12. I

The table further comprises means for supportingthe playing board on the base. In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 5 that means comprises'a solid mechanical connection between the playing board and base by which the entire weight of the board is supported. However, the invention particularly envisions that the playing board be supported by a fluid, such as a liquid in the base through the medium of a bouyant member,-for providing substantially all of the supporting force for the board and permitting uniform distributionofforce throughout substantially the entire area of the board. This arrangement leaves substantially no unsupported tables employing braces underlying the board. Some advantages accrue from the simultaneous employment of both the mechanical interconnection of table and base and the fluid interconnection of table and base. Both forms of mounting means are employed in the embodiment of FIGS. 1 through 4. v

In its preferred form, base 12 is formed as a single member by casting resin impregnated glass fibres upon a plugmold. The shape shown in the several draw ings is preferred both becauseof its appearance andbecause this general arrangement is readily manufactured. Use of this form results in relatively uniformdistribution of the stresses to which the base is subjected by the weight of the playing board and by the weight of the liquid. It is not essential to achieving the requisite stability that the entire base be filled with liquid. Accordingly, means may be provided according to the invention for confining the liquid to selected regions of the base. Such a means is illustrated in FIG. 2. The legs are each fitted with a plug of space filling plastic material. Plugs -l8 and Marc contained in legs 14 and T6, respectively. They may be formed of any inexpensive material. In this case they are made of polyurethane foam plastic which is'buoyant in water. A means not visible in FIG. 2 is fixed to the base structure to prevent them from floating upwardly.

The playing board is made of a material which is inexpensive, is relatively unaffected by the elements and which is sufficiently rigid so that its playing surface will remain flat. Reinforced concrete is an excellent material and is the material employed in the embodiments shown in the drawings. However, concrete is somewhat unstable in the sense that it is normally susceptible of deflection as a result of its own weight, as are some other materials. Thus, although a board of concrete would not normally be usable for a billiards table or the like, it is quite suitable when employing the uniform support and force distribution concepts of the present invention.

Concrete is strong, it is relatively inexpensive, it is rigid, and it is cast so that pockets and encompassing rails and other functional and aesthetic elements can be formed integrally with the table itself. In this embodiment, the table comprises a slab 22 of uniform thickness, such as one to one and one-fourth inch, in its central area where it is reinforced by steel reinforcing elements 24. At its outer margin the board is provided with an integrally formed, upstanding rail 26 thereby forming a unitary board with rails. Billiard tables usually are rectangular and are formed with six through pockets, one in each corner and one midway along the long sides of the rectangle, and these pockets may be cast into the table when it is formed. One of the pockets is visible in FIG. 3 where it is designated by the reference numeral 30.

Billiard tables are covered with felt, or a comparable material, not only for aesthetic reasons but also to offer impedance to the rolling of billiards over the table. A suitable felt or other material for this purpose is employed in the tables shown in the drawing. The felt covering layer 32, see FIG. 3, is formed by coating the upper surface of the playing table and the interior walls of the pockets with a resin. Short synthetic fibers are flocked upon the surface of the resin coating before the coating is dry. Excess fibers are removed when the resin is dried leaving a durable, waterproof covering on the treated surfaces which feels like fabric.

To insure proper rebounding of billiard balls when they strike the rail, a rubber bumper is fastened to the inner periphery of the rail except at the pockets. As best shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the resilient bumper may be triangular in cross-section and this is the preferred embodiment.

One arrangement for fastening the table to the base is illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3. The fastening elements 34 are generally L-shaped. One arm of the L is embedded in the outer margin or rail of the playing table. The other arm extends outwardly towards the edge of the rail and terminates in a threaded portion. It is intended that the threaded portion extend through a slot formed in the upper margin of the base structure. In FIG. 3 the L-shaped member 34 extends through a slot 36 in the outer portion of the base shell 12. That slot is elongated in a vertical direction to aid in assembly and to permit relative vertical adjustment. The base member and the table are held together relatively securely by a two part nut assembly 38 which is threaded on member 34 against a keyed washer 40 which is forced tight against the outer surface of the shell 12. Assembly 38 includes a flanged nut 42 which is turned onto the member 34 flange first so that its externally threaded body portion extends toward the outer end of member 34. The body portion of this flanged nut 42 is slotted lengthwise. The

washer 40 is provided with a key which fits in the slot and prevents rotation relative to the slotted nut. A second nut 44 is threaded upon the external threads of the flanged nut.

In FIG. 3 the outer flange portion 46 of the base shell 12 is shown to abut the lower surface of the playing board rail. This is not an essential feature of the construction. While the playing board will be supported in part by the flange when it rests upon it as shown, in most cases the playing board will not rest directly on the flange. The board is supported instead partly by the brackets 34 and it is supported to a substantially greater, or major, extent by the buoyant member 50 which is seen in FIGS. 2 and 3 to underlie the central region of the playing board. Advantageously, it underlies the entire central region of the board. The buoyant member 50 is floated in a body of liquid 52. That liquid will ordinarily be water, as shown, although it may comprise additives to prevent it from freezing or to minimize evaporation. The water level is adjusted so that the playing table is held at the desired level by the buoyant member. When so held, and when it rests, the nut assembly 38 is drawn tight. Thus, the support provided by the members 34 is minimal when the base liquid is up to level. Nonetheless, the mechanical connection is important to prevent lateral movement of the board relative to the base, and to bear some weight if water level should fall.

In this embodiment the playing board has uniform thickness, at least in its central area, and the buoyant member also has uniform thickness. In preferred form, the buoyant member is sufficiently flexible so that it will contact the underside of the playing table at a number of points so that the board is supported over its whole under area. It is not essential that the buoyant member be a single unitary member. Instead of a slab of polyurethane plastic as shown, the buoyant member could comprise a number of blocks or even a multitude of balls of light material.

In FIG. 3 that portion of the base shell which underlies the pocket 30, and which is designated 54 in FIG. 3, serves as a ball return chute. As best shown in FIG. 4, the V-shaped chute extends the length of the table and it slopes gently toward the left in FIG. 4 toward a ball return tray 16.

Installation of tables with boards supported as described herein is relatively easy. The fact that the threaded arm of the L-shaped member 34 extends through a slotted opening 36 at the point of its connection to the base permits installation of the table with its playing board level even though the base is out of level by several degrees. When the table is installed, the base is placed so that its upper margins are approximately level. Then the playing board is placed over the base and the base is filled until it overflows at the fill and overflow holes 60. All or substantially all of the playing table weight will then be supported on the water. Flange 42 may or may not touch the lower surface of the playing table although it will be relatively close to the lower face. The playing board is then centered laterally over the base and its lateral position fixed relative to the base by turning on the nut assemblies 38. That is all that is required for installation. Not only is the playing table adequately and uniformly supported but the table itself will be level provided that the table floats with its upper surface parallel to the surface of the body of water. That it will float in this fashion is readily insured by testing it on a body of water and by adding weights or removing buoyant material from the buoyant structure 50 until the board does float level. Ordinarily, such tests and adjustments are made during manufacture.

The location of the fill and overflow openings 60 fixes the maximum water level. If the water level falls below that point because of evaporation, a small amount of the playing board weight will be transferred to the base structure at flange 42 and through the L- shaped connection members 34. However, examination of FIGS. 2 and 3 illustrates that the surface area of the body of water that is exposed to the atmosphere is very small whereby evaporation is minimized. Further, there are well-known materials that can be added which will float on the surface and reduce evaporation and means can be provided for closing off the space above the water surface. However, the use of such expedients is ordinarily unnecessary and one of the advantages of the invention is that it is unnecessary to affect a seal between the playing board and the base. If the table gets rained upon or is cleaned with water from a hose, the added water will run down through the pockets, some of it may find its way into the base, the remainder will flow down the ball return chutes to the return tray 56. At that point it will flow out through openings at the bottom of the tray. If any excess quantity finds its way to the interior of the base, that excess will flow out of the overflow openings 60.

Alternatively, the member indicated at 50 can instead comprise a bladder 70 filled with a fluid, such as water or air, to provide uniform pneumatic support over substantially the entire area of the underside of the board as shown in FIG. 2b. In this case, the structure is similar to FIG. 2a but a bladder or bag is used and supported in the base in a suitable manner, such as on a filler material like the plugs 18a and a in the legs 14 and 16 as shown in FIG. 2b. Through this arrangement, a float member engaging the underside of the board is not necessary, and the underside of the board can, if desired, directly engage the bladder so as to provide substantially all of the supporting force for the board and to enable the fluid within the bladder to distribute the supporting force to the board in a uniform manner. Installation and leveling is accomplished in a manner similar to that described above, but in this case the bladder is suitably filled with a fluid. The use of a bladder also will substantially eliminate evaporation in the event a liquid is used.

The embodiment of FIG. 5 does not use the liquid in the base to support the playing board, Water, or some other liquid, is simply poured into the base or into each leg of the base up to the level of the fill opening 70 after the table has been delivered to the place where it is to be used and installed. The cast concrete playing board with-its integrally formed side rail and billiard pockets, is bolted to the top of the base. In this case, the legs are provided with level adjustment members 72 which may be adjusted until the top of the playing table is level. While other material may be employed to make the playing boards, molded materials such as concrete are preferred because they can be shaped not only to incorporate such features as side rails and pockets but to add strength where needed to avoid sagging. In FIG. 5 the central portion of the playing table 74 is made thicker than the marginal portions to add greater strength against sagging but this adds to the weight of the board.

Thus, a thin slab with uniform fluidisupport as previously described is preferred.

The present embodiments of this invention are to-be considered in all respects as illustrative and notrestrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description, and all changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are therefore intended to be embraced therein.

What is claimed is:

l. A playing table comprising board means having an upper surfaceforming a playing surface and having a lower surface, said board means comprising a slab of concrete having a rail encompassing a flat central area forming said playing surface,

base means capable of containing aliquid, said base means including a water impervious shell of the approximate length and width as the length and width of said slab,

float means underlying saidboard means for engaging the lower surface thereof and for utilizingliquid within said base means for supporting said board means and uniformly distributing the load thereof, said float means underlying asubstantial portion of the central region of said board means to provide uniform support of said board means, and

means coupled with said board means for stabilizing said board means against external forces applied thereto.

2. A playing table as in claim wherein .1

said slab of concrete of said board meanshaspocke formed therethrough thereby forming apocketbilliards table, and said slab of concrete and rail are integrally formed of concrete to provide aunitary board means including rails, and said coupling means includes means coupling the slab to said base means in a substantially fixed relationship for maintaining the plane of the flat central area substantially unchanged notwithstanding movement of liquid within said base means.

3. A playing table providing a substantially flat playing surface for billiards, pool and the like comprising base means for holding fluid,

playing board means normally susceptible of deflection as a result of its own weight, said playing board means having an upper surface providing a sub stantially flat, smooth and rigid playing surface for rolling balls thereon, and utilizing a substantially continuous area of fluid in said base means for evenly distributing the weight of the board means and maintaining the playing surface thereof substantially flat, said board means comprising a board member having said upper surface and having a lower surface supported by bladder means containing said fluid, said bladder means being disposed in said base means with the upper surface of said bladder means contacting substantially the entire lower surface of said board member and providing said substantially continuous area of fluid for distributing the supporting force to said board member in a uniform manner, and

coupling means attached to said board means, said coupling means including means for clamping said board means to said base means in a substantially fixed relationship for maintaining the plane of said board means substantially fixed.

4. A playing table for games such as billiards or the stantially continuous layer of liquid for enabling like comprising said float means and liquid to distribute the supboard means having an upper surface formingaplayporting force to said board means in a uniform ing surface, and having lower surface means covermanner, and

ing substantially the entire area of the bottom surmeans coupled to said board means for maintaining face of said board means comprising a slab of concrete with an integrally formed rail encompassing a flat central area forming the playing surface of the plane of said central area substantially unchanged upon the application of external forces to said board means.

said board means,

base means, said base means being capable of retaining a fluid underlying said board means and presenting a substantially continuous fluid area for contacting said lower surface means of said board means to uniformly distribute the load of said board means for support thereof, and

coupling means attached to said board means for substantially preventing movement of said board means upon application of external forces thereto.

7. A playing table providing a substantially flat play- 10 ing surface for billiards, pool and the like comprising base means for holding liquid,

playing board means normally susceptible of deflection as a result of its own weight, said playing board means having an upper surface providing a substantially flat, smooth, and rigid playing surface for rolling balls thereon, and utilizing a substantially continuous area of liquid in said base means for evenly distributing the weight of the board means and maintaining the playing surface thereof substantially flat, said base means being capable of holding a liquid to provide said substantially continuous area of liquid, and said board means comprising a slab of concrete having an integral rail encompassing a flat central area serving as the playing surface of said board means, and

coupling means attached to said board means, said coupling means including means for clamping said board means to said base means in a substantially fixed relationship for maintaining the plane of said board means substantially fixed.

8. A playing table providing a substantially flat playing surface for billiards, pool and the like comprising base means for holding liquid,

playing board means normally susceptible of deflection as a result of its own weight, said playing board means having an upper surface providing a substantially flat, smooth, and rigid playing surface for rolling balls thereon, and utilizing .a substantially continuous area of liquid in said base means for evenly distributing the weight of the board means and maintaining the playing surface thereof substantially flat, said base means being capable of holding a liquid to provide said substantially continuous area of liquid,

said base means including bladder means supported by said base means for utilizing liquid within said bladder means, and with a lower surface of said board means contacting an upper surface of said bladder means throughout substantially the entire area of said lower surface of said board means for distributing the supporting force to said board means in a uniform manner, and

coupling means attached to said board means, said coupling means including means for clamping said board means to said base means in a substantially 5. A playing table for games such as billiards or the like comprising board means having an upper surface forming a playing surface, and having lower surface means covering substantially the entire area of the bottom surface of said board means, said board means comprising a board member and said lower surface means thereof comprising a buoyant member disposed between a lower surface of said board member and adapted to float upon a substantially continuous layer of liquid contained in said base means for uniformly supporting said board member, and said board member comprising a slab of concrete having a rail encompassing a flat central area forming the playing surface of said board means,

base means, said base means being capable of retaining a fluid underlying said board means and presenting a substantially continuous fluid area for contacting said lower surface means of said board means to uniformly distribute the load of said board means for support thereof, and

coupling means attached to said board means for substantially preventing movement of said board means upon application of external forces thereto.

6. A playing table for billiardsor the like comprising board means having an upper playing surface forming the playing surface of said playing table, said board means comprising a unitary member in the form of a slab of concrete having an integrally formed rail encompassing a flat central area,

covering means on said playing surface of said board means,

base means underlying said board means for supporting and uniformly distributing the weight of said board means, said base means including support means comprising float means engaging substanfixed relationship for maintaining the plane of said tially the entire bottom of said board means, and board means substantially fixed. said base means being capable of containing a sub- 

1. A playing table comprising board means having an upper surface forming a playing surface and having a lower surface, said board means comprising a slab of concrete having a rail encompassing a flat central area forming said playing surface, base means capable of containing a liquid, said base means including a water impervious shell of the approximate length and width as the length and width of said sLab, float means underlying said board means for engaging the lower surface thereof and for utilizing liquid within said base means for supporting said board means and uniformly distributing the load thereof, said float means underlying a substantial portion of the central region of said board means to provide uniform support of said board means, and means coupled with said board means for stabilizing said board means against external forces applied thereto.
 2. A playing table as in claim 1 wherein said slab of concrete of said board means has pockets formed therethrough thereby forming a pocket billiards table, and said slab of concrete and rail are integrally formed of concrete to provide a unitary board means including rails, and said coupling means includes means coupling the slab to said base means in a substantially fixed relationship for maintaining the plane of the flat central area substantially unchanged notwithstanding movement of liquid within said base means.
 3. A playing table providing a substantially flat playing surface for billiards, pool and the like comprising base means for holding fluid, playing board means normally susceptible of deflection as a result of its own weight, said playing board means having an upper surface providing a substantially flat, smooth and rigid playing surface for rolling balls thereon, and utilizing a substantially continuous area of fluid in said base means for evenly distributing the weight of the board means and maintaining the playing surface thereof substantially flat, said board means comprising a board member having said upper surface and having a lower surface supported by bladder means containing said fluid, said bladder means being disposed in said base means with the upper surface of said bladder means contacting substantially the entire lower surface of said board member and providing said substantially continuous area of fluid for distributing the supporting force to said board member in a uniform manner, and coupling means attached to said board means, said coupling means including means for clamping said board means to said base means in a substantially fixed relationship for maintaining the plane of said board means substantially fixed.
 4. A playing table for games such as billiards or the like comprising board means having an upper surface forming a playing surface, and having lower surface means covering substantially the entire area of the bottom surface of said board means comprising a slab of concrete with an integrally formed rail encompassing a flat central area forming the playing surface of said board means, base means, said base means being capable of retaining a fluid underlying said board means and presenting a substantially continuous fluid area for contacting said lower surface means of said board means to uniformly distribute the load of said board means for support thereof, and coupling means attached to said board means for substantially preventing movement of said board means upon application of external forces thereto.
 5. A playing table for games such as billiards or the like comprising board means having an upper surface forming a playing surface, and having lower surface means covering substantially the entire area of the bottom surface of said board means, said board means comprising a board member and said lower surface means thereof comprising a buoyant member disposed between a lower surface of said board member and adapted to float upon a substantially continuous layer of liquid contained in said base means for uniformly supporting said board member, and said board member comprising a slab of concrete having a rail encompassing a flat central area forming the playing surface of said board means, base means, said base means being capable of retaining a fluid underlying said board means and presenting a substantially continuous fluid area for contacting said lower surface means of said board means to uNiformly distribute the load of said board means for support thereof, and coupling means attached to said board means for substantially preventing movement of said board means upon application of external forces thereto.
 6. A playing table for billiards or the like comprising board means having an upper playing surface forming the playing surface of said playing table, said board means comprising a unitary member in the form of a slab of concrete having an integrally formed rail encompassing a flat central area, covering means on said playing surface of said board means, base means underlying said board means for supporting and uniformly distributing the weight of said board means, said base means including support means comprising float means engaging substantially the entire bottom of said board means, and said base means being capable of containing a substantially continuous layer of liquid for enabling said float means and liquid to distribute the supporting force to said board means in a uniform manner, and means coupled to said board means for maintaining the plane of said central area substantially unchanged upon the application of external forces to said board means.
 7. A playing table providing a substantially flat playing surface for billiards, pool and the like comprising base means for holding liquid, playing board means normally susceptible of deflection as a result of its own weight, said playing board means having an upper surface providing a substantially flat, smooth, and rigid playing surface for rolling balls thereon, and utilizing a substantially continuous area of liquid in said base means for evenly distributing the weight of the board means and maintaining the playing surface thereof substantially flat, said base means being capable of holding a liquid to provide said substantially continuous area of liquid, and said board means comprising a slab of concrete having an integral rail encompassing a flat central area serving as the playing surface of said board means, and coupling means attached to said board means, said coupling means including means for clamping said board means to said base means in a substantially fixed relationship for maintaining the plane of said board means substantially fixed.
 8. A playing table providing a substantially flat playing surface for billiards, pool and the like comprising base means for holding liquid, playing board means normally susceptible of deflection as a result of its own weight, said playing board means having an upper surface providing a substantially flat, smooth, and rigid playing surface for rolling balls thereon, and utilizing a substantially continuous area of liquid in said base means for evenly distributing the weight of the board means and maintaining the playing surface thereof substantially flat, said base means being capable of holding a liquid to provide said substantially continuous area of liquid, said base means including bladder means supported by said base means for utilizing liquid within said bladder means, and with a lower surface of said board means contacting an upper surface of said bladder means throughout substantially the entire area of said lower surface of said board means for distributing the supporting force to said board means in a uniform manner, and coupling means attached to said board means, said coupling means including means for clamping said board means to said base means in a substantially fixed relationship for maintaining the plane of said board means substantially fixed. 